Born and raised on the Mediterranean island of Malta, Liza’s career as an Interior Architectural Designer included positions in Europe, Australia and the Middle East. She designed for some of the top international firms, such as HBA and Wilson Associates, leading projects for major brands.

When establishing M atelier in 2016, Liza had a set of clear priorities: to attract talented driven creatives who she loves to work with and to create a trusting and authentic work culture that fosters joyful creativity. In other words, she founded the company that she always wanted to work for.

Liza’s aesthetic style balances contemporary and traditional influences to create innovative spaces that leave a lasting impact. Her design principles are grounded in a deep understanding of the hospitality industry, as well as the priorities that drive Owners and Clients, and, above all, the guest experience.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a place Liza hasn’t visited! Experiencing different cultures, new people and places is her fun, relaxation and inspiration all rolled into one. She also deeply appreciates all forms of artistic expression, creative arts, music, and dance.

Darren’s growth path within the industry makes for quite a story. Starting as a designer focused on technical documentation, his love for design and learning saw him evolve into a highly seasoned designer, with a 20-year international Interior Architectural Design career, including managerial roles in some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality practices, such as GA Design, Chada, and HBA.

His stylistic awareness and industry know-how are immediately evident in his luxury hotel design portfolio; where design details and consideration of services are kept front and centre without compromising on stylistic and storytelling aspects of design. One of Darren’s superpowers is his impressive sketching abilities, which he uses to powerful effect by quickly and effectively illustrating his vision. He pairs his sketches with modern design processes for a refined and streamlined workflow for developing and documenting designs.

A self-confessed foodie, Darren’s passion for international cuisine is contagious. He makes a point of sharing and celebrating all the best restaurant experiences he’s savoured while travelling the planet.

Ben’s career has more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel. He graduated in Computer Science followed by a Psychology Bachelors and an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience. He started his academic career in Physical Oceanography before taking on a Public Relations role where he gained experience in client services and communications. He then moved to a creative agency, where he cemented his skills as a Senior Account Manager, working within a multi-disciplinary team to build and manage brands for all kinds of organisations. As one final career twist before joining M atelier, Ben joined a budding tech startup, offering him the opportunity to build a company and a brand from scratch.

As M atelier’s Brand & Operations Manager, Ben is one of our Clients’ first touch points. He manages tenders, proposals and other operational tasks including invoicing and payments. Owing to his experience in branding, he naturally leads brand and marketing initiatives.

Ben’s creative outlets include photography, creative writing and music production. He loves deep books to expand his mind, nature time and the occasional house party.

Born and raised in Porto, Mariana joined M atelier with around 15 years of experience from prestigious UK-based luxury interior design studios, including 1508 London, MAWD, and Goddard Littlefair. During this time her refined aesthetic sensibilities made an indelible mark on many prominent hotels; including the iconic Rosewood (Doha, Qatar) and The Carlton Tower Jumeirah Hotel (Knightsbridge, London).

Mariana is known for her relentless drive and her perfectionistic way. She has a keen eye for balance and beauty; striving to attain the best quality and aesthetics possible without losing sight of her client’s prerogatives and the brand’s identity. She also has extensive experience designing ultra-luxe discreet private residences, many of which are located in some of the world’s most exclusive enclaves. Despite all her accomplishments, Mariana always remains open to learning and further developing her signature breed of premium interiors.

Mariana comes from a line of performing artists and creatives. So it’s no surprise that she enjoys singing and painting. Her youthful, passionate, and optimistic approach to life brings new energy and drive to the Team each day.

Pedro’s design journey began in Lisbon, where as an undergrad student he explored deep theoretical interests, such as how architectural representations are appropriated in art, cinema, and design. These philosophical roots led him to Interior Architectural Design, which he found to be an ideal creative outlet for his interests and growing expertise in spatial composition.

After completing a Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University of Porto, Pedro joined M atelier. Always expanding his expertise and creative boundaries, refining his design strategies and abilities, Pedro possesses a rare enthusiasm for meticulous conceptual approaches. He is relentlessly dedicated to refining his craft and loves flexing his talent for bringing innovative ideas and fresh perspectives to the table. Organised, reliable and hardworking, Pedro is a great communicator, and a calming presence in the office owing to his characteristically calm and focused way.

Pedro looks to fun nights out with friends and colleagues to bust stress and create memories. His love and talent for photography provide a constant source of inspiration. He’s also a well-versed cinephile with a ravenous appetite for analysing classical cinema, and independent and arthouse productions.

Holding an MSc in Architecture from the University of Campinas in Brazil and a Master´s Degree in Product and Industrial Design from the University of Porto (Portugal, Brazilian-born architect Gui contributes invaluable know-how in emerging creative and technical design techniques.

With an MSc in Computational Design, Gui possesses invaluable knowledge about algorithmic design tools and other cutting-edge techniques for the digital fabrication of products and spaces. Since joining M atelier in early 2023, he has been implementing these skills in the specialised luxury hospitality sector for space planning, concept design and technical documentation.

Gui is a deep thinker. A highly conscientious person, and a great conversationalist, he’s as happy buried in a good book as he is socialising, meeting new people and exploring new places.

Schwaz is what you’d call an early bloomer. He pretty much always knew he wanted to be a designer; when growing up in boarding schools across Mumbai, Dubai and Rajasthan, he would walk into a space and start reimagining it.

Upon completing a bachelor’s in Architecture, Schwarz went straight into a series of design positions at prominent firms in Dubai: DTK Studio and HBA. Hardworking, diligent, and reliable, Schwarz believes keeping an open mind while embracing a collaborative creative process is key to creating successful person-centred spaces.

Schwarz’s idea of fun and relaxation ranges from Netflix nights to bungee jumping. Passionate about trying new cuisines, he’s perpetually hunting new restaurants. He also has a thing for racket sports, especially badminton and table tennis.

Originally from the Italian city of Naples, Giuseppe read a Master’s in Architecture in Turin before taking off on a global career journey, earning him invaluable experience at Imperio Design (Portugal), EDM (USA), and Goddard Littlefair (London).

His expertise includes hotels, resorts, and premium residential complexes; evidenced by his many contributions to highly diverse ventures ranging from large-scale developments to intricate design elements.

When joining Matelier, Giuseppe fitted in right away, quickly becoming an energetic and reliable team player. Ardently committed to bringing the full extent of his expertise to projects, Guiseppe’s detail-oriented approach to Design and Project Management makes him a highly reliable, consistently productive and creative force.

Giuseppe loves to travel on photo expeditions, snapping architectural landmarks the world over. Exploring new and old buildings through the lens helps him stay inspired.

Marina brings many fresh perspectives thanks to her experience in distinguished international Architecture and Design firms, including the influential S+S Design & Architecture Studio with its global reach and specialisation in HoReCa.

All who work with Marina appreciate her consistency and her masterful managerial skills. Thoughtful, highly consistent and armed with a quirky sense of humor, Marina is also known for her cool, calm and collected disposition, even in the most stressful situations.

Marina values family and her personal and professional growth over most things. She enjoys reading, especially for self-improvement and learning new skills. A fun fact about Marina is that she sang in a choir as a teenager and performed in the Vatican’s San Pietro Cathedral, where she had the privilege of meeting Pope John Paul II.

The top item on Marina’s bucket list is to see as much of the world as possible. Travelling adventures are her source of inspiration and motivation, which explains the impressive list of visited countries, offering her a lived global experience and deepening her appreciation for different cultures and ways of life.

Joanne enjoyed a fruitful career as an Architect in the Philippines, before moving to Dubai in search of new challenges and global design opportunities. She joined the Dubai-based Glintmeijer Design Studio, gaining valuable experience with hospitality, residential and F&B projects, honing her skills in space planning, project coordination, and technical documentation.

A guru at managing documentation teams and working operationally with brand standards, Joanne is approaching her fourth year at M atelier. She insists she couldn’t be happier with the support and respect she receives as an individual while also continuing to learn and grow as a designer.

Joanne could give time-management classes in her free time. If she had any that is! She is a dedicated mother of two, yet she keeps up with several nourishing recreational activities. She enjoys painting and portraiture as a creative outlet, badminton and boxing classes as a fun way to keep fit and crocheting as a fulfilling way to unwind.

Cess grew up immersed in the arts world and was actively involved in Theater productions from a young age. After graduating in Interior Design, she began her professional career with HBA Design, gaining invaluable experience and honing her craft within the dynamic design scene of Asia.

Moving to Dubai marked a new chapter in Cess’s life and career. She joined Kristina Zanic and gained more experience with high-profile international projects. Her creativity blossomed as her talent for visual creativity flourished. She later joined Etherington McLaughlin Associates, where she continued to hone her skills in luxury hospitality projects.

Cess brings a fresh and artistic perspective to every project she touches while also striving to balance creative and practical aspects of design. Her bright and bubbly personality shines through her creative output. Dedicated, energetic, and unflinchingly optimistic, Cess prides herself on her punctuality and solid work ethic.

An art aficionado with a deep knowledge and appreciation for Filipino art, Cess openly admits her admiration for Botong Francisco, a renowned figure in Philippine art whose work she treasures as an enduring source of inspiration and motivation. She also enjoys painting portraits and costume design as creative outlets.

Born and raised in Braga, Portugal, José’s dynamic career spanned four continents before returning home to join M atelier. He has worked client-side and across private and public sectors, on highly diverse projects of varying architectural scales. Living and working in cities like Hong Kong, Miami, and Rio de Janeiro contributed to his global perspective and deep understanding of cultural nuance in design.

José is also our in-house Artificial Intelligence guru. His curious and techy mind embraced this emerging technology, and we all benefit from his understanding of this rapidly improving tool. José was inspired to become an architect by an early fascination with materiality and the sensory experience of space. He was especially drawn to how architecture and interiors can shape mood and create atmosphere by engaging all five senses. One highly formative experience was José’s early success in competitive tennis. At the age of 18, he won a tennis scholarship to play in a US college; an experience he cherishes for having taught him a great deal of discipline, strategy, and perseverance.

Today José has traded tennis in for Padel. He also enjoys aerial drone photography, which combines perfectly with his passion for travelling to explore new places. Music is another creative outlet; he plays guitar, produces music and DJs, and has even performed in Hong Kong and at music festivals across Asia.

The saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ is not wasted on Tristan. As an architecture student in the Philippines, Tristan’s heart was always set on the visual aspect of the architectural design process.

Don’t let his youthful appearance fool you. Tristan is a veteran in his field, having joined M atelier with some 15 years of experience already under his belt, including roles at the Dubia-based luxury design practices HBA and KC Design Consultant.

As M atelier’s Lead visualiser, Tristan manages teams to produce photo-realistic 3D images which offer emotive viewer experiences; crafted with exceptional accuracy, and attention to detail to faithfully communicate our concepts and bring our visions to life.

Most of Tristan’s free time is happily spent with his family and pet dogs. He’s also a motorcycle enthusiast who loves taking long rides for fun and relaxation.